Finland’s feral cat population declines but crisis persists, animal welfare groups say

Finland’s uncontrolled feral cat populations have begun to shrink after years of volunteer efforts, according to the Finnish Animal Welfare Society (SEY). However, the organisation warns that the country’s “cat crisis” remains unresolved.

The assessment is based on data collected from SEY’s roughly 40 member associations nationwide, as well as municipal animal shelters and supervisory veterinarians. Many local groups report improvements in their areas, with some regions no longer seeing new feral colonies form at all, said SEY communications director Maria Eiskop.

Feral populations typically originate from unneutered pet cats allowed to roam freely. Finland is estimated to have hundreds of such colonies, some numbering up to 100 cats. The crisis has persisted for years, but Eiskop credits long-term volunteer work—and increased resources—for the positive shift.

“Of course, it helps that we now have more supervisory veterinarians, and the new Animal Welfare Act explicitly prohibits uncontrolled breeding of pets,” she noted.

Most escaped cats abandoned

Finns abandon roughly three out of four escaped cats, Eiskop said, despite most having previously lived as pets. Misconceptions about cats’ self-sufficiency contribute to the problem.

“There’s a perception that cats are semi-wild animals that can fend for themselves—and should fend for themselves,” she explained. In reality, she stressed, cats require human care and stable homes.

Push for mandatory neutering

SEY continues to advocate for legally mandated neutering of cats, calling it the most effective way to prevent overpopulation. The proposal was included in the previous government’s programme but dropped from the current one, with cost—neutering typically exceeds €100 per cat—cited as a likely barrier.

“The obligation would fall on owners, and I suspect the government doesn’t want to impose such requirements,” Eiskop said.

The organisation is also pushing for a national cat registry, modelled after the existing dog registry, with state funding. Meanwhile, SEY is recruiting more volunteers to tackle the ongoing crisis.